Felt-tipped marking pen with composite ink reservoir



March 12, 1963 R. R. STEVENS FELT-TIPPED MARKING PEN WITH COMPOSITE INKRESERVOIR Filed May 22, 1962 aired droites The present invention relatesto marking pens and more particularly to an improved marking penemploying a felt reservoir and to an improved reservoir for use in suchpens.

Marking pens wherein the ink is held in a felt reservoir from which itis fed to a felt writing point or nib are very useful for a number ofpurposes. Such pens, of the type shown for example in Patents Nos.2,416,596 and 2,713,178, tind substantial use where it is desired tomake broad lines as in printing or writing on labels and the like. Suchpens comprise a closed container within which is located a block of feltwhich serves as the reservoir for the ink. The nib, composed of a hardfelt, is disposed within an opening at one end of the container with itsinner end in contact with the felt reservoir and its outer end extendingoutwardly of the container. it has been found that it is not practicableto charge the container with a greater amount of ink than can be takenup and held by the felt, as excess ink, free within the container, wouldcause leakage. One drawback to such pens as heretofore known has beenthe fact that the amount of ink which can be provided within the feltreservoir is limited, limiting the useful life of the pen. It has beenfound that by decreasing the density of the felt, the felt reservoir canbe caused to take up a greater amount of ink, but such less dense feltis less eective in conveying or wicking the ink to the nib from theportions of the reservoir remote from the nib so that any advantage inincreased ink storage capacity to be obtained by decreasing the densityof the felt is offset by such decrease in the feeding or dischargingproperties of the felt, so that all of the ink may not be utilized, Suchdischarging property, or ability to feed the ink from remote portions ofthe reservoir to the nib, can be increased by. increasing the density ofthe felt, but the advantage of such increase in density is offset by thedecrease in the amount of ink which can be retained within the felt.

The invention provides an improved marking pen wherein the reservoir maybe less dense and thus have a large ink storage capacity but yet whereinthe ink conducting and discharging properties of the reservoir are.

excellent. With the reservoir of the invention an ink storage capacitycorresponding to that of a less dense felt is obtained with inkdischarge properties corresponding' to those of a more dense felt, sothat the total amount of ink available for utilization is greater thancan be obtained with either a dense felt or a markedly undense felt,with corresponding longer useful life of the pen, and with a felt thatis not so lacking in density as to permit the ink to settle out of thefelt and cause leakage. These advantages, further, are obtained with adecreased total amount of fibre, and thus lower cost.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved marking pencharacterized by excellent ink storage capacity and excellent inkdischarge properties, and consequently a long useful life.

A further object is to provide an improved felt reservoir for use inmarking pens characterized by large ink storage capacity and excellentink discharging properties.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved feltsuitable for use in marking pens to provide an ink reservoircharacterized by large total available ink and by long life.

diidih Patented Mar. i2, 'i963 Gther and further objects, features andadvantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of presently preferred particular embodiments of theinvention, in which description reference is made to the accompanyingdrawing wherein FIG. l is a perspective View of the ink reservoir,partly broken away to show the construction;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View on line 2 2 of FIG. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of a writing point or nib employed in themarking pen of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is an elevation, partly Ibroken away, of the marking pen.

In accordance with the invention I provide a marking pen comprising anelongated liquid type container, suitable in shape for use as a writinginstrument, the container having an opening in one end thereof in whichis located a felt nib having its writing tip extending outwardly of thecontainer and its inner end disposed within the container and in contactwith a felt ink reservoir within the container. The ink reservoircomprises an elongated body, adapted to be received within thecontainer, which body may be cylindrical or rectangular in cross sectionand is formed of randomly disposed textile fibers, said body furthercontaining a plurality of textile fiber strands arranged in two or morelayers Within the body and extending endwise of the reservoir from theend adjacent the nib to the end most remote therefrom, approximatelyparallel to each other and along approximately straight lines. With thisconstruction, a less dense felt may be employed, thus providing a largerink storage capacity, and yet due to the presence of the longitudinallydisposed strands, the ink is eiectively conducted to the nib from allpoints throughout the body of the reservoir.

Referring to the drawing, and first to FIG. 4, the marking pen comprisesa container 2 which may be of metal, glass, plastic or other suitablematerial, and is preferably such as to constitute a body which iselongated and of a size such that it convenientiy can be held in thehand during writing o-r marking with the pen. The container 2 is open atits upper end, as shown, and is provided adjacent its open upper endwith screw threads for the reception of the similarly threaded closuremember 6. ri`he member 6 has a central opening therein within which isreceived a nib holding tubular member 8 having at its llower or innerend an outturned liange it) which is seated against the inner surface ofthe closure member 6 adjacent and surrounding the central opening.Within the nib-holding member is located the nib 12- composed of a hardfelt of animal libers, typically wool. The tip M of the nib i2, whichconstitutes the writing portion of the nib, protrudes from the open endof the tubular member S and the inner or lower end 16 of the nib isdisposed below the flange liti and in engagement with the reservoir i8within the main body of the container 2.

While the nib may be of any conventional form and construction, l preferto use a nib of the form shown in HG. 3, wherein the inner end 16 of thenib is of greater dimension in at least one direction than the portionof the ni-b `which lies entirely within the tubular nib supporttingmember S. Thus, in FIG. 3, the lower end 16r is of greater width thanthe body 2t? lof the nib. It will be understood that the ink containedwithin the reserfvoir 18 is transferred to the nib by the contactbetween these two elements so that, in the use of the pen, ink iS y'conducted from the reservoir to the writing tip 14 as it is needed. Thepreferred form of nib, as shown in FIG.

3, provides a lower portion which makes contact with the reservoir 1Sacross the entire width of the reservoir and thus contributes toeffective and complete discharge of ink from the reservoir.

A cap 22, adapted to. be tightly seated on the tubular nib-holdingmember 8, is provided to protect the nib when not in use .and to sealthe container 2 against loss of ink by evaporation.

ReferringV now -to FIGS; 1 Iand 2, wherein the reser- Voir 1S is shownin more detail, the reservoir comprises the body 24 of felted animalfibers, typically wool, the fibers, as is conventional, being dispose-din random directions within the body and by their interlocking with eachother :serving to provide the necessary coherence and integrity and holdthe lbody of felted 'fibers together. The Abody 24 of the reservoir mayinclude a reasonable amount of non-felting fibers such -as will providethe optimum density, if desired, as is well known in the art.

In accordance with the invention, the body of the res ervoir 18 isprovided with layers of fibrous strands 25 disposed endwise of the body.As shown, the strands 26 are disposed -in fiat layers within the `body24. The strands need not ybe composed of feltable fibers as they areheld in place within the felted body by the felting or intermingling ofthe fibers of the main portion 24 of 'the body. Due to the nature andthe disposition of the strandsl 26, the fibers thereof lie predominantlyin the direction exten-ding from one end of the reservoir to the other.There are at least two layers of lsuch strands 26 and prefer-ably fouror five or more layers. Each layer may be composed of any desired numberof strands. Preferably the strands are of such number and are so spacedwithin the layer Vas to provide about 15 to 20 strands per inch `ofwidth of the layer, transversely of the'length of the strands. The totalnumber of strands .and layers is 4such that the strands 26 constitutebetween about 5% and 20% of the total weight of the reservoir 8. It isan important' feature of the invention that the strands 26 be disposedsubstantially parallel and lalong lines extending from the end of thereservoir 18 which is in contact with the nib 12 tothe opposite orremote end of the reservoir.

The material of which the strands 26 are formed is not a criticalfeature of the invention. the strands may be formed from acrylic fibers,polyamide fibers, such as nylon fibers, glass fibers, viscose, Daeron oracetate' fibers, or fibers of a polyester resin or other syntheticmaterial, or any textile fiber. The strands 26y may be formed ofvegetable fibers, such as cotton, and Iv have found that cotton fibersare very effective for the purpose. A two ply' No. 20 scoured cottonyarn of 3 turns per inch twist makes an excellent strand 26.

The strands 26 m-ay be of any desired construction. 1 prefer that thestrands not be so tightly twisted or of such fine diameter as sewtingthreads. Desir-ably' the con-- struction of the strands'26 is such thatthey are no harder than the felt structure 24 in which they areembedded. On the other hand, the strands 25 preferably are not of a verysoft and spongy construction.

While I have described the bodyV 24 of the reservoir as formed of feltedfibers, I do not intend to exclude bodies of Afibers formed into -afelt-like formI by the conventional needling operation, as suchdbodiesare useful in the invention.

Conveniently the strandsr 26 may be assembled with layers of the fiberswhich are to constitute the body 24 before hardening and felting of thebody 24, whereby the fiber layers .are secured to each other and aboutthe strands 26 by the felting or needling operation.

I -have found that reservoirs constructed in accordance with theinventiony lare capable of raising to the n-ib of thev pen over twicethe amount of ink that could be providedI by a 'similar reservoir fromwhich the strands 26 were absent. A further advantage of the reservoirconstruction of the invention is that the strands 26, due to theirlongitudinal disposition within the body of the felt, provide a certain4amount of longitudinal stability or stiffness, vcausing the body tobetter resist endwise deformation and thus to hold the upper end of thebody in good The fibers of contact with the lower end of the nib. Thestrands 26 of the reservoir of the invention provide a height of rise ofthe ink greater than can be provided by a simple felt. Thus thereservoir 18 can be made longer, thereby pro` viding a greater volume ofreservoir with the consequent greater volume of useable ink `andcorresponding longer life of the pen.

With reservoirs constructed in accordance with the invention containingfive layers of strands of cotton fibers I have foundl that the overalluseful life of the pen is increased one-third or more as compared with apen of conventional construction wherein the reservoir is la felt ofwoolV fibers. Accordingly the invention provides a marking pen and afelt reservoir for such pens, characterized by longer usefuly lifethanhas heretofore been available, yet at lower cost, -as the totalweight of the fiber may be less, land provides more positive feeding ofink to the nib due Ito the longitudinal strands and provides morelengthwise rigidity in the reservoir t-husl affordingamore positivecontact between the reservoir and the nib.

With the construction of the invention, the reservoir may -be formed ofa less dense felt than would ordinarily lbe employed for suchreservoirs, th-us providing a larger ink storage capacity. Due to thelongitudinal' disposition of the strands 26, the reservoir of ItheinventionV exhibits excellent ink exhausting properties, markedly betterthan would be the case with a felt of corresponding density -from whichthe strands 26 were absent. Thus the invention provides at the same timeboth excellent inl:

storage capacity and excellent ink exhausting properties,y

while employing a lesser total weight of fiber and yet without makingthe felt body of the reservoir so soft and lacking in density as topermit unwantedl loss ofy ink therefrom and leakage of the pen.

I claim:

1. A marking pen comprising an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of felted fibers disposed in saidopening and extending outwardly of said container, a cap enclosing theoutwardly extending portion of said nib and closing said opening', andan ink reservoir within said container comprising an elongated body ofrandomly disposed felted` fibers, said body containing a plurality oftextile fiber strands arranged in two or more layers within said bodyand extending parallelv to each other along approximately straight linesfrom one end of said body to the other lengthwise of said body, theinner end of said nib engagingsaid body and'said strands.

2. A marking pen comprising' an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of felted fibers disposed in saidopening and extending outwardly of said container, a cap enclosing theoutwardly extending portion of said nib and closing said opening, theportion of the nib within the container being substantially wider'thanthe portion of the nib extending outwardly of the container, and an inkreservoir within said container comprising an elongated body of randomlydisposed felted fibers, said body containing a pluralityv of textilefiber strands arranged in two or more layers within said body andextending parallel. to each other along approximately straight linesfrom one end of said body to the other lengthwise of said body, theinner end of said nib engaging said body and said strands.

3. A marking pen comprising an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of hard felted animal fibersdisposed in said opening and extending outwardly of said container, acap enclosing the outwardly extending portion of said nib and closingsaid opening, and an ink reservoir within said container comprising anelongated body of randomly disposed felted fibers, said body containinga plurality of twisted cotton fiber strands arranged in two or morelayers within vsaid body and extending parallel to each other alongapproximately straight lines from one end of said body to the otherlengthwise of said body, thel inner end of said nib engaging said bodyand said strands.

4, A marking pen comprising an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of hard felted animal fibersdisposed in said opening and extending outwardly of said container, acap enclosing the outwardly extending portion of said nib and closingsaid opening, and an ink reservoir within said container comprising anelongated body of randomly disposed felted fibers, said body containinga plurality of twisted cotton fiber strands arranged in two or morelayers within said body and extending parallel to each other alongapproximately straight lines from one end of said body to the otherlengthwise of said body, said cotton ber strands constituting between 5%and 20% of the weight of said body, the inner end of said nib engagingsaid body and said strands.

5. A marking pen comprising an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of hard felted animal fibersdisposed in said opening and extending outwardly of said container, acap enclosing the outwardly extending portion of said nib and closingsaid opening, and an ink reservoir within said container cornprising anelongated body of randomly disposed felted fibers, said body containinga plurality of twisted textile ber strands arranged within said body intwo or more layers of 15 to 20 strands per inch of width and extendingparallel to each other along approximately straight lines from one endof said body to the other lengthwise of said body, the inner end of saidnib engaging said body and said strands.

6. A marking pen comprising an elongated liquid-tight container havingan opening in one end thereof, a nib of hard felted animal iibersdisposed in said opening and extending outwardly of said container, acap enclosing the outwardly extending portion of said nib and closingsaid opening, the portion of the side within the container beingsubstantially wider than the portion of the nib extending outwardly ofthe container, and an ink reservoir within said container comprising anelongated body of randomly disposed felted ibers, said body containing aplurality of cotton fiber strands twisted at least 3 turns per inch andarranged within -said body in two or more layers of 15 to 2() strandsper inch of width and extending parallel to each other alongapproximately straight lines from one end of said Ibody to Ithe otherlengthwise of said body, said cotton fiber strands constituting between5% and 20% of the weight lof said body, the inner end of said nibengaging said body and said strands.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A MARKING PEN COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LIQUID-TIGHT CONTAINER HAVINGAN OPENING IN ONE END THEREOF, A NIB OF FELTED FIBERS DISPOSED IN SAIDOPENING AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER, A CAP ENCLOSING THEOUTWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID NIB AND CLOSING SAID OPENING, AND ANINK RESERVOIR WITHIN SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY OFRANDOMLY DISPOSED FELTED FIBERS, SAID BODY CONTAINING A PLURALITY OFTEXTILE FIBER STRANDS ARRANGED IN TWO OR MORE LAYERS WITHIN SAID BODYAND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER ALONG APPROXIMATELY STRAIGHT LINESFROM ONE END OF SAID BODY TO THE OTHER LENGTHWISE OF SAID BODY, THEINNER END OF SAID NIB ENGAGING SAID BODY AND SAID STRANDS.